Usedcarsalesman was driving through nearby Burbank, Ca. on the way to the local Fry's Electronics to buy some generic toner cartridges for his thirsty new printer. While motoring down Burbank's intermixed commercial and residential areas, he noticed an unusual automobile go by in the opposite direction. It was a 2004 Toyota Prius, but one painted black and gold and with company advertising on the side.
Though its driver was seated in the normal location, the black and gold Prius appeared to have two adult passengers in the back who appeared unrelated to the driver. Usedcarsalesman was apparently looking at a 2004 Toyata Prius Taxi!
It occurred to Usedcarsalesman last year, but really sunk in yesterday after he saw this Prius Taxi: hybrid power and other efficiency- enhancing technology such as map-based GPS navigation for cars might greatly improve the efficiency of traditional automotive-based service businesses such as Taxi Cab companies and Messenger companies. Typically these businesses use gas-engine cars that have to idle constantly and drivers that must have fluent knowledge of local roadways to survive on the job.
It occurred to Usedcarsalesman last year, but really sunk in yesterday after he saw this Prius Taxi: hybrid power and other efficiency- enhancing technology such as map-based GPS navigation for cars might greatly improve the efficiency of traditional automotive-based service businesses such as Taxi Cab companies and Messenger companies. Typically these businesses use gas-engine cars that have to idle constantly and drivers that must have fluent knowledge of local roadways to survive on the job.
But if you add or substitute highly efficient gas/electric hybrid-engine cars (that shut off at idle) and GPS navigation in to tht business equation, Taxi-Cab companies and Messenger/Delivery companies look like they are in much stronger position to minimize the expenses -- gas consumption, inexperienced or unknowledgeable drivers, miscommunication between driver and passengers regarding locations -- that can drag on their business.
Usedcarsalesman even thinks that In Los Angeles, hybrid cars with GPS Navigation could enhance the public's demand for Messenger services over the next 20 years. Think about this possibility: knowing that he can employ a Messenger Company's precision-guided, non-gas-hogging car to run errands for him, Usedcarsalesman decides to get out of the weekend-using, personal errand-business for good. Yes, Usedcarsalesman and others wouldn't necessarily know the drivers doing the jobs. But they also wouldn't have to fear that issues of fuel consumption and navigation would affect drivers' concentration on the complicated details of weekend deliveries. As such, consumer confidence in Messenger companes might grow, as would demand for their services.
Usedcarsalesman even thinks that In Los Angeles, hybrid cars with GPS Navigation could enhance the public's demand for Messenger services over the next 20 years. Think about this possibility: knowing that he can employ a Messenger Company's precision-guided, non-gas-hogging car to run errands for him, Usedcarsalesman decides to get out of the weekend-using, personal errand-business for good. Yes, Usedcarsalesman and others wouldn't necessarily know the drivers doing the jobs. But they also wouldn't have to fear that issues of fuel consumption and navigation would affect drivers' concentration on the complicated details of weekend deliveries. As such, consumer confidence in Messenger companes might grow, as would demand for their services.
Another point to consider is that for every one hybrid/GPS navigated car used in the Messenger business and employed by local LA consumers, you might keep several cars -- each one operated by a person running his own errands -- off the road. Then add other things like the new Satellite-provided "traffic congestion" locators to these Messenger vehicles. Ahh, imagine fewer cars in mall parking lots and freeways on Saturdays in LA!
What gets better is, down the road, when you take the driver out of the equation and have self-driving, GPS-guided hybrid autos. Usedcarsalesman would simply load his stuff in to the automated vehicle and it would drive to prearranged destinations; people on the receiving end would do the rest. But, unfortunately, Johnny Cab (see Paul Verhoeven's 1991 "Arnold" film, Total Recall) is still a generation or more away.
What gets better is, down the road, when you take the driver out of the equation and have self-driving, GPS-guided hybrid autos. Usedcarsalesman would simply load his stuff in to the automated vehicle and it would drive to prearranged destinations; people on the receiving end would do the rest. But, unfortunately, Johnny Cab (see Paul Verhoeven's 1991 "Arnold" film, Total Recall) is still a generation or more away.
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